Card ejecting mechanism



F. M. CARROLL CARD EJECTING MECHANISM Jlil z, 1940.

Filed May 25, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR M I A'II'TORNEY y 2, 1940- F. M. CARROLL CARD EJECTING' MECHANISM Filed May 25, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2.

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I AfTORT-JEY 2, 1940. F. M. CARROLL 2,206,661

0mm EJECTING MECHANISM Filed May 25, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I 11,,111411111n ATTORNEY Patented July 2, 1940 CARD EJECTING MECHANISM Fred.M. Carroll, Binghamton, N. Y., asslgnor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation oi New York Application. May 25, 1939, Serial No. 275,608 6 Claims. (01. 164-112) This invention relates to card ejecting mechanisms and, more particularly, to the type employed in card punching machines which are utilized to remove the punched cards from the punching I mechanisms thereof and into a card receiving hopper.

In key controlled punching machines of the type wherein the cards are manually inserted and manually removed, card ejecting mechanisms are,

10 obviously, not employed. Subsequent improvements in key controlled punching machines incorporated automatic card feed mechanisms whereby the cards are automatically fed from a card supply hopper into an operative relationship with the card punching mechanism. Still further improvements consisted of theaddition of a card ejecting mechanism which automatically removed the punched card from the punching mechanism and disposed the punched card into a 10 card receiving hopper. With the understanding that the travel of the cardfrom the card supply hopper to the punching mechanism, then through the punching mechanism by a step by step feeding movement concomitant with successive punch- 85 ing operations, and finally the additional feeding movement for ejecting the punched card out of the punching mechanism, requires the feeding of the card in a direction which is along the longer dimension of the tabulating card, it will be seen 80 that such an arrangement requires a machine of an inordinate length. Punching machines constructed according to this arrangement are not suitable for operation in places such as desks, benches, or other supports of restricted dimen- 85 sions.

The main object of the present invention is, therefore, to devise a card ejecting mechanism which will eject the card out of the punching mechanism without inordinately increasing the 40 length of the punching machine.

More specifically it is an object of the present invention to eject the card by flipping it over and about its longer dimension thus utilizing some of the space in the punching machine which 46 is not occupied by other mechanisms, and thereby providing a compact machine.

A still further object of the present invention is to devise a card ejecting mechanism which provides a mechanism for automatically shifting the 60 punched card in. a horizontal plane so as to shift one end of the card out of cooperation with the punches. When such relationship has been established another automatically operated mechanism will flip the card about its longer dimension :55 thereby ejecting it into a card receiving hopper.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide the punch carriage with a card stop which indicates or defines the proper position of the card with respect to the card carriage and to also provide a mechanism which at the last card 5 column punching positionremoves the card stop out of cooperation with the card so that the latter may be freely moved in a horizontal plane, independently of the card carriage, out of operative relationship with the card punches. 10

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a means under control of the improved card ejecting mechanism shown herein for causing the automatic restoration of the card punching carriage, so that this operation, and 16 other related functions, may be performed as in machines of similar construction.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the punching machine incorporating the present improvement. 20 Fig. 2 is a plan view, partially in section, and taken on an enlarged scale with respect to Fig. l and shows the left end of the punching machine.

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the coordination of certain parts of the punching machine.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation and is taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing one of the contact closing devices and associated electrical contacts.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

The present improvement is preferably incorporated in a punching machine of a well known type fully shown and described in the patent to Lee et al. No. 1,976,618, dated October 9, 1934.

The cards to be punched are fed from a supply hopper 4 (Fig. 1) to a punching carriage 5. Keys 6 are provided which are manually operated so as to effect the selection and operation of punches 8. As the punches are operated the card carriage is moved step by step under the influence of a conventional escapement mechanism. In this manner the card columns are successively punched. As is well known in the art a punched master card may effect the energization of punch selecting magnets I to also eiTect the operation of the punches 8. i

All of the card columns may be punched by the punching machine or after punching a predetermined number of columns the card carriage may be skipped, and in each type of operation the card carriage will move to a "last column position at which time the improved card ejecting mechanism will be set into operation so as to remove the punched. card from the carriage by an arrangement now to be described in detail.

AsbestshowninFigsAandtothe side frame g It oi the punching machine there is secured a pair of brackets ll, l2 which carry supporting rods l3, l4. A tube i5 loosely surrounds the rod l3 and at its right end the tube l 5 has fixed thereto a collar ii the latter being adiustably fixed tothe tube l5 by a set screw i'l. One end of a coil spring l3 surrounding the rod (3 securely fits in the adjustable collar l5 and the other end of the coil spring I3 is secured to the side frame l2 and the tendency of the coil spring I3 is to rotate the rod l3 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 7. v v

A pair of gripper plates l3 have their ends 23 curved around the tube l5 and are normally in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 7 but are rocked go by the rocking of tube ii to the dottedline po-' sltion shown in Fig. '1. Secured to the tube I5 is a collar 2| held to the tube by a set screw 22 (Fig.2) and saidcollar has a projection 23 which, as shown in Fig. 7, is interposed between 33 the gripper plates l3 to rock the plates l3 by the rocking of the tube l5. A cylindrical spring 24 shown in Fig. 5 is fixed to the curved ends 23 of gripper plates l3 so as to rock them together and securely grip the punched tabulating card 25 as the latter is interposed between the gripper plates l3 as successive card punching operations ensue. A projection 23 of the collar 2| normally rests, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, on

the horizontal edge 21 of a cam plate 23 which is pivoted on the rod l4 and urged by a coil spring 23 to the position shown in Fig. 'I.

Secured by screws 33 (Figs. 2 and 5) to the bracket II is a tube 3| and a coil spring 32 surrounds the tube l5 and is within the tube 3|.

One end of the spring 32 bears against a fixed bracket plate 33 which is apertured to receive the tube- I5 and the other end bears against a collar 34 secured to the tube l5. The spring 32 urges the tube l5 and parts carried thereby to the left so that the gripper plates 13 now engaging the punched card 25 shifts the punched card to the left clear of the punches 3, since in the last column punching position the card is not free of the punches or other guide plates of the punching machine.

The shifting of the card is normally prevented by a latching mechanism comprising an extension 35 of a pivoted release arm '35. The arm 35 is rocked by the following described means.

The release arm 33 is pivoted by a stud 3] carried by a bracket 33 and at a certain position of the carriage its rear end underlies an operating arm 33 which is pivoted on a rod 43' carried by the card carriage. The arm 33 carries an a block 4| (Figs. 2 and 4) and the left edge of-the tabuiating'card 25 bears against this block to align the card on the card carriage. When the card carriage is skipped or moved to the last column position the arm 33 engages a fixed cam as plate 43 (Fig. 4) which rocks the free end of arm 33 downwardly to lower block 4| out of engagement with the tabulatlng card 25 and since the arm 33 now overlies, as shown in Fig. 2, the left and (Fig. 4) of the release arm 35 the latter will be rocked to release spring 32 for action, so as to cause the punched card to be moved laterally over the card carriage entirely clear of the punches 3 and without obstruction by the block 4l.

Projection 26 slides during this operation to access:

the left (Fig. 5) until it reaches an inclined edge 42 of the plate 23 thus permitting spring II to rock the tube (5 and thus the elector plates II are flipped during their lateral movement to the dotted line position (Fig. 'l) placing a the laterally shifted punched tabulating card over a storage hopper 43. The card is positively stripped from the ejector plates II by means new to be described.

As best shown in Fig. 3 the escapement rack 10 44 of the card carriage carries a pawl 43 pivoted at 43 to the escapement rack. As the escapement rack 44 and the card carriage move laterally beyond the last column position, as just described, the pawl. 45 will be moved from the 15 dotted line position shown in Fig. 3 to the full line position shown in this figure and in so doin itwill engage alug 41 of anarm 43 securedtoa rock shaft 43, and'the pawl 45 will rock idly counterclockwise past the lug 41 and occupy the so full line position. By means' to be shortly described, the escapement rack is moved to the right by the power restoration of the card carriage in the same direction so that pawl 45 will strike the lug 41 but since the pawl 45 will now u be prevented from rocking clockwise, since it engages a pin 53 carried by the escapement rack, the movementof the latter to the right will cause the rocking of the arm 43 and, therefore, the shaft 43. 3\

Plvotally mounted on the rod l4 and urged by a coil spring 5| (Figs. 2 and 5) is a bail 52 which carries a pair of upstanding stripper fingers 53. when the card has been flipped in the manner just described the stripper fingers 53 will cooperate with one of the longer edges of the tabulating card. As bestshown in Figs. 4 and 5 the ball 52 is provided with a bail extension 54 which cooperates with a profile cam 55 secured to the rock shaft 43. As the shaft 43 is rocked the 40 cam 55 will rock the ball 52 and by means of the stripper fingers 53 positively remove the tabulating card out of cooperation with the ejector plates l3. In the operation of the machine the stripper fingers 53 are given a rapid operation 45 so as to quickly strip the card from the ejector plates l3 so that the stripped card will fall freely into the storage hopper 43.

It was previously stated that when the ejector plates l3 are released for lateral movement, the 50 lug 25 will slide along the horizontal edge 21 of the cam plate 28,'and thereafter down the inclined cam edge 42 thereby causing the ejector plates to be rocked to the dotted line position shown in Fig. '7. When in the dotted line posi- 55 tion the lug 23 will strike a lug 53 of a bracket 51 (Fig. 7) secured to the side frame lot the punching machine, in which position it will be entirely free of the cam plate 23. After the shaft 43 has been rocked to cause the stripper 40 plates 53 to strip the flipper card from the ejector plates l3 said rocking being by contacts 2M closed by a lug 62 on disc 53, as later described, arm 58 secured to the shaft 43 will strike a disc 53 secured to the tube I5 by a set screw 53 and 35 engaging the side face of the disc 53 it will restore the tube l5 to the right, as viewed in Fig.

5. The lug 25 will thereupon engage a cam edge 3!, Fig. 7, of the bracket plate 51 and the cam edge 6| is spirally formed as best shown in Figs. 70 2 and '7, thereby causing the tube I5 to be reversely rocked. The lug 23 will, during this operation, be positioned underneath the cam plate 23 thereby rocking it clockwise as viewed in Fig. 7 until the lug 23 clears the horizontal edge 21 1o shaft I52.

aeoaem oi the cam plate 28 thereby relatching the ejector plates It in normal position as shown in Fig. '7. The parts are now in the normal position placing them in readiness for a subsequent card ejecting operation.

As best shown in Fig. 6, the disc 59 which, as previously stated, is fastened to the tube I which is moved laterally, and also rocked in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6, is provided with a pin 62 which is adapted to engage a spring blade of contacts 20I thereby closing such contacts and as is well known and fully described in Patent #1,976,618 a circuit to a magnet I75 (Fig. 1) which causes the power restoration of the punching carriage and by means of said punchirg carriage eiTect the rocking of the shaft 49 to perform the functions eifected by the rocking of this shaft.

From what has been previously stated the closure of contacts 2! (as well as last column contacts I 9!, Fig. 1) will effect the energization of the magnet I75, which is shown in Fig. 1. The magnet I75 will thereby attract its armature I16 to rock an arm I85 to close contacts I90. The closure of the contacts I90 will close an electrical circuit to the motor I51. Contacts designated I98, I9I, and 2llI herein correspond to contacts similarly designated in Fig. 15 of the patent to Lee et al. #1,.9761118, and the same applies to the designation of the motor 151. The manner of closing contacts I90 is fully described and shown in Fig. 1 of this patent.

As more fully described in this patent, the energization of the magnet I15 will rock an arm 177, shown in Fig. l, and which corresponds to the arm designated by the same numeral in Fig. 9 of the patent. The rocking of this arm will effect a clutch connection between the driving shaft I6I, Fig. 1, of the motor I5! and a driven By effecting the clutch connection, shaft IE2 is rocked and also a gear I63, and which gear corresponds to the gear similarly designated in Fig. 3 of the Patent #l,976,618. As more fully described in this patent the rocking of the gear just mentioned will cause a power restoration of the card punching carriage at which time another card will be removed from the card supply hopper to the punch carriage preparatory to punch ing a successive tabulating card.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a card handling machine, means comprising a pair of pivoted jaws for receiving a card ,ejected from a punching mechanism and means for moving said jaws along their pivot to remove the punched card from the punching mechanism, and means for thereafter swinging said jaws in an are about their pivot to deposit the punched card in a. receiving receptacle.

2. In a card handling machine, a punching carriage carrying a card which is moved step by step concurrently with successive card punching operations, means for removing the punched card from said card carriage comprising a gripper receiving said punched card and means for moving said gripper to move the card in the same plane in which it is moved step by step, means controlled by said carriage and responsive to a predetermined position of said carriage for causing the operation of said moving means, and means separate from the moving means for swinging said gripper about an arc while carrying the card to deposit the punched card in a receptacle.

3. A card ejecting mechanism adapted for cooperation with a movable carriage to eject cards therefrom, said ejecting mechanism comprising a gripping means including a pair of pivotally mounted jaws, means for moving said jaws along their pivot to move the card in a horizontal plane, means responsive to a predetermined position of the card carriage for operating said moving means, and means for causing the rotation of said jaws durin their movement along their pivot to rotate said punched cardin an arc to deposit it in a. receiving receptacle.

4. A card ejecting mechanism adapted for cooperation with a movable card carriage to eject cards therefrom comprising a pair of card receiving grippers pivotally mounted on a rod and slidably mounted along said rod,,means for effecting a slidable movement of said gripper along said rod and means for concurrently causing said gripper to be rocked about said rod during said slidable movement, both component movements of said gripper removing the punched card from. said carriage and concurrently depositing it in a receptacle.

5. In a. card handling machine, a card carrying carriage, a pivoted arm having an abutment cooperating with a, marginal edge of the card for defining the proper location of the card with respect to the card carriage, a pivoted gripper receiving said card and means for moving said gripper to move the card in a horizontal plane, means-for operating said arm at a predetew mined position of the carriage for displacing said abutment to release the card and for causing the operation of said moving means, and means for swinging the gripper in an are about its pivot and while carrying the card to deposit the punched card in the receptacle.

6. In a card handling machine including a step by step operated punch carriage carrying a card to be punched, a power driven card carriage returning means, means for removing the punched card from said carriage in the same plane in which it is movedfor punching comprising a pivoted gripper and means responsive to a predetermined position of said carriage for moving said gripper along its pivot, means for automatically causing the rotation of said gripper about its pivot to deposit the punched card in a receptacle, and means operated concurrently with the rotation of said gripper for causing the operation of the carriage returning means.

FRED M. CARROLL. 

